AB0286 BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF OLIVES AND OLIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ON RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DISEASE ACTIVITY
Authors: F. Ingegnoli, R. De Vito, R. Caporali, M. Parpinel, G. Grosso, M. Ferraroni, V. Edefonti
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

<h3>Background</h3> The main goal for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to control symptoms to reach clinical remission or low disease activity as the best possible alternative [1]. Although the number of available therapeutic options, a substantial proportion of patients remain symptomatic. Recent EULAR recommendations [2] shift focus to lifestyle interventions whose concurrent approach could help in controlling potential inflammatory triggers. In this context, olives and olive oil have beneficial properties on health mainly attributed to their high monounsaturated fatty acid content, and to the presence of phenolic compounds. To our knowledge, very few studies addressed the anti-inflammatory effects related to olives and olive oil consumption on RA disease activity. <h3>Objectives</h3> To study the attitude of consumption of olives and olive oil in RA patients from northern Italy, and to assess the effect on disease activity. <h3>Methods</h3> In this observational cross-sectional study, all consecutive adult RA with disease duration ≥ 3 months were enrolled. Disease Activity Score on 28 joints (DAS28-CRP), Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) were recorded. Dietary habits in the previous six months were collected with a with a 110-item food frequency questionnaire. In this analysis, we focus on olive oil consumption with original response categories ranging from "never" to "more than 2 times per day" (in spoon units). We created a food group composed by olive oil, black and green olives (frequencies/day). Olive oil consumption was entered as the independent variable into multiple regression models. When disease activity was entered in continuous in the regression models, we estimated the effect on a 1-point increment/decrease in RA disease activity. When disease activity was modeled as a dichotomous variable, we estimated the odds ratios (ORs) of disease activity and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) within unconditional multiple logistic regression models. We included in each model the potential confounding variables: age, sex, education, body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking status, alcohol drinking intensity, disease duration, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), and therapies. <h3>Results</h3> 365 RA patients (median age: 58.46 years, 78.63% females) were included. Most of the patients (60.55%) finished the high school and/or the university. The median BMI was 23.63 (IQR: 21.00-26.78) Kg/m<sup>2</sup>; never smokers or drinkers were 51.64% and 29.04%, respectively. The median disease duration was 12.81 (IQR: 8.08-20.72) years, with RF positivity being 53.70% and ACPA positivity 50.96%. Disease activity measures DAS28-CRP and SDAI showed medians of 2.21 (IQR: 1.613.02) and 6.30 (IQR: 3.01-11.81), with high disease activity present in 3.84% and 5.75% of the sample, respectively. Major comorbidities included arterial hypertension (33.42%), gastro-esophageal reflux (19.18%), and gastritis (8.77%). After adjustment for the mentioned confounding factors, the ORs (and the corresponding 95% confidence interval) of RA disease activity was equal to 0.78 (95% CI: 0.76-1.31) for DAS28-CRP and to 0.76 (95% CI: 0.75-1.34) for SDAI, suggesting significant protection of about ~20% for both outcomes. Similarly, robust regression models for estimating the increment in the mean outcome disease activity scores, DAS28-CRP and SDAI in continuous, provided beta coefficients equal to -0.17 (Standard Error, SE: 0.06) with a p-value equal to 0.06 for DAS28-CRP and a beta coefficient of -1.13 (SE: 0.37) with a p-value equal to 0.04. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Increasing frequency of consumption of a food group composed by olive oil, black and green olives is significantly associated to a lower risk of disease activity, as measured by both DAS28-CRP and SDAI, after adjustment for socio-demographic factors, therapy, disease duration and severity. Robust regression models allowed to quantify the mean reduction of DAS28-CRP in 0.17 points and that of SDAI in 1.13 points. <h3>References</h3> [1]Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:685–699. [2]Ann Rheum Dis 2021;80:1278-1285 <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> The authors thank the RANDIE study group <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Francesca Ingegnoli: None declared, Roberta De Vito: None declared, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Lilly, Pfizer, Fresenius-Kabi, MSD, UCB, Roche,Janssen, Novartis, Sandoz, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Lilly, Pfizer, MSD, UCB, Janssen, Novartis, Sandoz, Maria Parpinel: None declared, Giuseppe Grosso: None declared, Monica Ferraroni: None declared, Valeria Edefonti: None declared